The Sea

The sea symbolizes freedom and youth. For Ulysses, his longing for adventure, exploration, and above all a life where he depends only on himself is symbolized by thoughts of the sea. He imagines that it is possible to "sail beyond the sunset" – that the sea may contain more possibilities that can be imagined while he is confined to life in Ithaca (60).

Stars

Stars symbolize a struggle with destiny. In both classical and Victorian writing, "stars" were a common metaphor for fate or destiny. In this poem, Ulysses compares knowledge to "a sinking star," suggesting that it may be his destiny to pursue knowledge, even if it once again takes him away from his home and his family (31). He also longs to go beyond "all the Western stars," into the land of the unknown, as he believes he is meant to do (61).

Achilles

Achilles symbolizes the...